Scholastic’s Map without Israel

Such a mistake should be unthinkable to make in the first place.

Scholastic Books, publisher of the Harry Potter series, and the world’s largest publisher of children’s titles, is stopping all shipments of its book Thea Stilton and the Blue Scarab Hunt. This will give them time to reprint the books, they’ve explained, which omitted Israel from a map of the modern Middle East.

The company scrambled into action after an Israeli newspaper contacted them: a reader in Jerusalem had complained, noting there was no Israel on the map at the beginning of this popular children’s adventure. Instead, Israel is labeled as part of Jordan.

The book, originally written in Italian by Elisabetta Dami and first published by Edizioni Piemme in Italy in 2009, has been available in English from Scholastic since 2012. It’s a well-written, educational story: it concerns a mouse and her friends who go on a treasure hunt, learning about ancient Egypt, archeology, and picking up new vocabulary along the way.

My kids have enjoyed some of the books in the Thea Stilton series; their Jewish school even stocks some of the series’ books in the school library, though they don’t seem to have spotted the Blue Scarab Hunt volume. Curious, I checked it out from our local public library (which stocked a dozen of them – it’s a very popular title). There it was: a full-page map at the beginning, setting out the geography of the Middle East for young readers – with Israel’s neighbors like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan clearly marked, but Israel completely erased from the picture.

Given the book’s overall high quality and educational content, though, it’s all the more surprising that a map with Israel erased from the region would be able to go through the editing process without anyone spotting this glaring mistake. Clearly, the editors at Scholastic are experienced at publishing high-quality children’s literature. That a map omitting the Jewish state could get past their review perhaps shows how commonplace it’s become to doubt Israel’s very existence.

Thea Stilton isn’t the only example of otherwise smart people making this dumb mistake.

In 2010, I was shocked to receive my copy of Connect, the alumni magazine of the London School of Economics, and see that – accompanying an article announcing the creation of a new Middle Eastern Research Center – was a map of the region in which Israel’s neighbors were identified, but there was no mention of the Jewish state.

After receiving numerous complaints from outraged alumni, the university later apologized, explaining their magazine editors used a stock photo of the Middle East “without realizing” Israel wasn’t identified.

A similar apology was forthcoming in 2013, when a British teacher complained that a popular English as a second language textbook in the UK contained a map in which all of Israel was mislabeled “Occupied Palestine”. Garnet Education, which published the book, also apologized, calling the mislabeling a “genuine mistake”.

Sometimes its erasure is no mistake. A 2013 study by the US State Department found that 96% of textbooks used in Palestinian schools failed to identify Israel on maps. This makes it much harder for the region’s children to grow up with a realistic view and acknowledge that Israel’s existence is a fact that can’t be wished away.

Academia isn’t the only sphere in which otherwise smart people seem to be making big mistakes when it comes to identifying the Jewish state on maps and in books. It happens in the worlds of business and politics as well.

In 2002, German car maker BMW illustrated its Middle East dealers’ website with a map that failed to identify Israel (even though Israel’s Arab neighbors were clearly labeled). In that case too, BMW quickly apologized after receiving complaints from outraged customers, and corrected its website, claiming that Israel’s omission was the result of error.

And in 2013, the Association of South African Engineers signed a cooperation agreement with the Palestinian Engineers Association: they sealed their deal with a photo op in front of a map – with all of Israel mislabeled as Palestine, and the name “Israel” nowhere to be found. A mistake?

At the official launch of two German-funded UN projects in southern Lebanon in 2013, Ann Dismorr, a UN official in Lebanon, posed with a map that erased Israel, mislabeling it “Arab Palestine” instead. She later denied the photo op, although it was published in area newspapers.

We all make mistakes, but when one error is repeated so often, it can make one wonder – just how much of a mistake is it? In a world where Israel’s very existence is too often threatened, erasing it from maps is an intolerable mistake that educated people should not make. It’s gratifying that companies and schools are quick to apologize, but it would be better for all of us if such a mistake would be unthinkable to make in the first place.

Featured at Aish.com:

About the Author

Yvette Alt Miller earned her B.A. at Harvard University. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Jewish Studies at Oxford University, and has a Ph.D. In International Relations from the London School of Economics. She lives with her family in Chicago, and has lectured internationally on Jewish topics. Her book Angels at the table: a Practical Guide to Celebrating Shabbat takes readers through the rituals of Shabbat and more, explaining the full beautiful spectrum of Jewish traditions with warmth and humor. It has been praised as "life-changing", a modern classic, and used in classes and discussion groups around the world.

Visitor Comments: 28

(21)
Anonymous,
January 2, 2014 9:05 AM

To leave out a country in a scholar map can only be interpreted t as a deliberate expression of ill feeling towards the country left out. In my time in secondary school, we can even sketch the map of various parts of the world without leaving any country. Therefore for a scholar to leave out any country is not only unthinkable, but pure and simple heinous. Sorry such strong words. Forgive me.

(20)
MABSH"Y,
November 26, 2013 1:53 PM

Another good one for you.

A schematic map of communication lines in the Middle East by "telegeography", sponsored by the Saudi Arabian telecom company Mobily has lines going into Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Nahariyya in a strangely unnamed, yet differently shaded, area between Lebanon, Jordan and Palestinian Territory Hmm..wonder what THAT could be?http://middle-east-map-2013.telegeography.com/

(19)
Devorah Caplan,
November 21, 2013 12:51 PM

Don't sugarcoat the Lies of those who hate us and their nefarious schemes

These incidents are no mistake. They are a deliberate assault on Israel, Jews, Truth. They are a sinister "under the radar" attack on Israel's legitimacy and by extension, the right of any Jew to exist anywhere. These marginalize our children and undermine their self-esteem among their peers. They put all Jewish children on the defensive constantly. This kind of insidious evil demonizes Israel and Jews in subtle and pervasive ways that are tantamount to spoon feeding the monster of anti-Semitism steroids. This cannot and must not be tolerated. It is up to the adults to aggressively counter these hateful "omissions" and confront them for what they really are . . . Disinformation, Propaganda, and Lies that dehumanize Jews and endanger the Jewish state! Publishers who allow themselves to be used as pawns and proxies for these assaults should be exposed and held to account for and correct these sugar coated "mistakes." Shame on them!Shame! Shame!

(18)
Nandini,
November 21, 2013 2:19 AM

Jewish Schools all over the US, hold days of book events, to sell this company books, that most likely than not have nothing to do with the Jewish lifestyle and thought.

The publisher erase the name of Israel and the Jewish people give them money by almost forcing their children to buy their books. A bunch of idioxxxs!!!!!

Even a Goy has to tell you to get Jewish books.!!!!

(17)
Gustavo Barajas,
November 19, 2013 5:47 PM

Stick to Jewish books, why are we given importance to people who don't put israel in the map? Doesn't the Torah say, we are the apple of His eye. This generation has little emuna. ayayayay!!!

(16)
Anonymous,
November 19, 2013 2:07 PM

Miistake

Ms. Miller is either VERY generous or very naïve!. None of these are mistakes. They are deliberate and ugly attempts to influence people!

jgarbuz,
November 19, 2013 6:02 PM

Absolutely. The ancient obsession to erase the Israel and

and the Jews remains as strong today as ever. There is no mistake. It is willful and partially driven to appease the vast Muslim audiences as well. It is evil, but people do evil things if it can benefit themselves.

Silvia,
November 22, 2013 5:33 AM

I wholly agree with this comment.

(15)
Nancy,
November 19, 2013 1:36 PM

The omission of Israel was NOT a mistake. I am glad Scholastic was responsive to the people who spoke out against what happened, but am also very hurt that it happened in the first place. Scholastic books were a part of my childhood and I feel as if I have been slapped in the face.

(14)
Temmy S.,
November 18, 2013 5:21 PM

We must "Be ever vigilant"

It appears to me that Scholastic has to see that many people have seen and are dismayed by their failure to recognize the importance of Israel. Let's all call the number below and show them we care!
804-724-6527

Emily,
November 24, 2013 5:10 PM

Number changed

The phone number, 804-724-6527, is no longer in service. Don't be deceived, these omissions were no "mistakes."

(13)
Fred,
November 18, 2013 3:51 AM

"No Mistake at all"

No one of the cases cited in the article can be labeled as "mistake", neither as "ignorance". In my childhood I went to a Christian school, I was five years old< and they taugh to all students where Israel is located,and its history. How come a scholastic does not know the Israel location and its history and existence?

(12)
Steven,
November 18, 2013 1:37 AM

As a teacher I am appalled by this and will boycott Scholastic.

I have been a teacher 25 years and have used Scholastic products for many of those years. To say that this was a simple mistake is ludicrous. Scholastic is one of the largest and most reputable educational companies in the the world. To say it is a simple mistake and they were ignorant of it is to say that they are illiterate and a sham. It is just another example that anti-semitism is still a real issue in today's world. I will no longer use or purchase any materials from Scholastic. I will have myself removed from their newsletter and unsubscribe from their journals. I will encourage all other educators to do so also.

(11)
Marilyn Nathan,
November 18, 2013 12:32 AM

I doubt any of the "mistakes" were made by unknown folks. Unfortunately there are too many countries that would like it better if Israel did not exist. WE MUST BE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS.

hannah,
November 18, 2013 1:56 PM

WE dont have to be sure it never happens... G_D has promised that HE will protect HIS land

(10)
Frederick,
November 17, 2013 11:15 PM

Mistakes that occur on purpose. Book & Journals are edited of course, before being printed. Was the editor drunk on Arab money that he/she could not detect a blatant "mistake ". My how Hitlerite revivals come about from a so called educated educator anti Israel (anti Jews) who set themselves up as judge & jury. A sad day for civilisation to promote lies as truth.

(9)
bea baldridge,
November 17, 2013 11:04 PM

Re:Scholastic publishers

I called Scholastic and was transferred to a man who was very apologetic and said they were recalling the book and putting out a new copy with Israel on the map. 804-724-6527.

(8)
Daisy Harari Mayer,
November 17, 2013 10:45 PM

Shelikim from Israel

Here in brasil we always say that Israel send to us the worst sjelikim and that Israel need to have more marketing, Israel must do more advertising about out they do good for the people in gas a, and have more advertising all over the world, because still now tall over the world they are envie of us Jewish.

(7)
Anonymous,
November 17, 2013 10:26 PM

Vote with your wallets and your feet

I've already made the decision to jettison South Africa rom my planned travel. I won't be purchasing any books from Scholastic either.

These are not mistakes; these are deliberate decisions.

(6)
Steve Nirelle,
November 17, 2013 8:10 PM

Michelin Does the Same with Its Maps

Denying the existence of something makes it easier to eliminate it--and easier to turn a blind eye when someone else tries to eliminate it. I saw similar activity in France in the 1970's. A discount chain in 1977 carried peanuts labeled "Imported from Israel." The same chain in 1979, with the same peanuts, labeled the package, "Foreign Import." So let's not delude ourselves into thinking this has anything to do with Israel's "policies," other than its main one, which is to provide the Jews with a homeland. That policy Israel will never abandon, and for that policy alone, the world will never forgive it.

(5)
Anonymous,
November 17, 2013 7:47 PM

The Best Defense is.........

A report I read last Spring, identified a disturbing trend that is relevant to these accounts. It reported on a trend in the US for Palestinian Apologists to be included (in a sense of 'fairness') on parental review committees of Publishers of School Books. Further, these zealous committee members were reported to demand the deletion of not only well-accepted historical accounts, but also any term or phrase (regardless of its accuracy) that could be seen as casting Muslims in a less than favorable light.
Any objections to such demands would, almost certainly, have been quashed by 'Political Correctness", the currently ruling 'religion' in the US.
The most effective means I can see to counteract such diffuse, well-placed cultural attacks is a similarly dedicated and well-placed cadre of well-informed Parents, to object-to, and...as a last resort, report upon such self-serving attacks by people who, wittingly or not, are serving the interests of those who have un-abashedly and repeatedly declared themselves to be our enemies.

(4)
Sheindel,
November 17, 2013 7:39 PM

To EB, funny, how you specifically mentioned Fox & CNN, I find ABC,NBC,& CBS have blatantly lied so many times, and did you notice how they all have the same news, with all that is happening in the world, isn't that a little peculiar? They are all told what to do~ in order to have their jobs. And yes, they deliberately left Israel out. Remaking history, like they have been for so many years, welcome to the matrix.

(3)
Yehudit,
November 17, 2013 7:09 PM

An interesting mistake

The scholastic omission was an interesting one, only they got it wrong: historically, Jordan was in fact part of the land formerly known as Palestine, (formerly Judea and renamed to erase Jewish ties to the land) until it was sliced off by the British in 1921 to become known as Transjordan, leaving Israel with only app 27% of original Palestine, which was slated for further division by way of the Palestine Partition plan later rejected by the Arab states, though of course "Palestine" had already been partitioned: slicing off 63.9% and handing it to the Hashemite Kingdom in an international trade off. No small wonder that close to 70% of Jordanians are in fact Palestinians.
The correct omission would have been Jordan, since all of the area in question was indeed belonging to the kingdom of Israel centuries before the Jordanian "nation" was conjured out of thin air.

(2)
EB,
November 17, 2013 7:01 PM

I agree that this is no mistake

I agree that publishing this map is a deliberate act, and not a "mistake" as Scholastic has stated. In fact the only reason that printing was halted, is because so many people complained. Unfortunately, people are so conditioned to believe what they hear or see on the news. They do not take the time to think for themselves and investigate on their own to seek out the truth.

Journalism today is about lets make it up as we go. We do not need to check the fact, let's run with this or that story. ie: Fox, CNN, etc.. are all guilty of this. There is no integrity in reporting anymore.

Regina, you are right about "Pallywood" promoting shameful lies for decades now. Hamas, etc.. has learned to use the media to their advantage to spew their vitriol, and vicious lies.

(1)
Lynne,
November 17, 2013 12:09 PM

conversation with Scholastic supervisor

I spoke to a supervisor at Scholastic early last Thursday morning and was told that this was a "mistake" I explained that printing a page upside down is a mistake. Publishing this map is a deliberate act. Then he told me that a decision had not been made at that point -- two options were to stop publication, or to sell the existing inventory and correct the error in future printings. I am glad that the correct decision was made, but don't understand why continuing to sell the book with its incorrect map was even considered.

Regina,
November 17, 2013 3:51 PM

"No Mistake"

You are absolutely right. This is just one of many ways in which the world is telling us how they feel about Israel - they are more than happy to believe the lies that "Pallywood" has been promoting for decades. I say we need a well thought out, full scale response - any ideas?

Paul,
November 17, 2013 10:15 PM

An Idea

Here is an idea, American Jews, try to support candidates that have proven record of action supporting Israel and Jews, not hollow promises to get money and votes. We had a chance to elect a proven friend in Romney, not perfect but a man of character. Europe is lost, our one hope is U.S. remaining World Power and leaders with courage to stand for truth and values.

SarahRachel,
November 17, 2013 11:46 PM

ANY Response Is Useless. Why? It's Israel's Own Fault

There is no point at all in any response as long as Israel itself continues to promote the lie of a "Palestinian" people. As long as this fake "people" even exists, no response will be possible. The Israeli Govt knows very well there is no such thing as a "Palestinian", yet removes Jews from their own towns and gives it to this "people", negotiates with this "people" as tho they actually exist, releases murderous Arab terrorists by the thousands who are supposedly "Palestinians" - the Israeli Govt KNOWS they are not, yet continues to commit heinous acts like this.

How do you or anyone expect the rest of the world to believe ANY response you could come up with when the very Govt of Israel itself is so deeply involved in selling the world this lie?

You do realize that without this lie of a "Palestinian" people, the ENTIRE PREMISE FALLS APART. Its like my grandfather talks to imaginary people, what's the Govt of Israel's excuse?? Forget any responses to Scholastic or anyone else as long as this "Palestinian" people exist in the world's eyes there is NO response that justifies the supposed occupation of a "native" people on its own land. See how that goes? Just forget it. Don't even try. Watch Israel destroy itself from the inside and become a new state called "Palestine", because that's what it's doing. On purpose. The Jews there had better either get rid of their traitorous government of pack up and get out because when the new country Palestine is created it will make the last Holocaust look like child's play. Will the Jewish people in Israel allow their own Govt to do destroy their country? They sure are so far, aren't they.

I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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